My ALA baggage

Before attending large conferences like ALA, I like to gather some of the thoughts I’ve been casually tossing around in my head. I say casually, because I really haven’t given any of them the benefit of any formal thought process. At any rate, this is the baggage I’m bringing to ALA:

A library on the Edge?

Like two distinct brands of the same religion, librarians are drifting into two camps–those that believe libraries are in peril and those that don’t. Those who find themselves as a member of the former tend to feel that their libraries need to change in a number of fundamental ways in order to remain relevant. Those who identify with the latter group feel that good old-fashion librarianship is still what their users want or need. They’re the purists. Perhaps I’m oversimplifying this, but I do believe that all of us sit somewhere between these two poles.

This dichotomy yields some interesting implications for discussions about the future of libraries and what we should be doing now and in the future. For instance, if you’re inclined to think that libraries are in danger of becoming irrelevant, you’re probably going to be more open to many of the more radical proposals and developments we’re seeing and hearing of today. Purists, of course, are just as vehement and passionate about libraries, but want to see the core values of their libraries shored up. To them, good old fashion reference and circulation is what libraries are all about.

So the question is, how do these two groups find a middle ground that will not compromise us into mediocrity? I’m skeptical about the prospect of creating more excellent middle-of-the-road libraries. That’s what most of us are right now.

Web 2.0 is saturated while Library 2.0 is parched

The library corpus cannot absorb all the 2.0 being thrown at it. I see two major problems that are causing a veritable 2.0-anemia.

First, while Library 2.0 may not be exclusively about technology, it’s hitched its wagon to technology in inextricable ways. That means that in order to be deft L2 wagon-drivers, we need to have great technologists and great technology. Libraries have a severe shortage of both and while we may try to make ourselves gleam to one another as best we can, what we really ought to be doing is focusing on how libraries can be attracting new blood into that particular sector of the industry. There is no doubt that great work is being done by a lot of talented people (and they know who they are). But for most of us, implementation is still that big old swollen caveat hanging out there uncomfortably.

Second, after implementation, integration tends to be awkward, at best. There is a fairly severe disconnect between what the 2.0 pundits say (among whom I count myself), and what is really happening. Your library may have, for instance, a Flickr account, IM reference, a bloglines blog, delicious bookmarks, whatever. But are they truly embedded into the way your institution works? In almost every case, this approach seems like throwing seeds into the air, letting them land where they may. I think it’s time to start talking about how we arrange these components into a more suitable constellation of services. These technical elements of L2 must be aligned along our institutions’ field of influence and expertise so that the seams don’t show. Seams send the wrong message, they say we’re being disingenuous and sloppy. In effect, poorly implemented technology amounts to spamming our users and staff with “new features.”

The user is sometimes broken

Sorry Karen, but sometimes the user is broken. And that’s ok. We’re all broken in some way and that’s what makes us human. Let’s not forget that, at its core, the library is a human construct created by humans for use by humans. I think we can be there to help fix the user, to enable the user to change in the ways that he or she would like.

There will be times when we get it right and the user still can’t handle it, because the user can’t deal. We shouldn’t change a good thing for him because accommodating him will send us down an endless rabbit hole. It’s those cases that we rely on our hospitality and deference to help the user as best we can.

The librarian is sometimes broken

Of course, the flip side of this is that, yes, sometimes the librarian is broken too. In comparison, it’s much easier to deal with a broken user than a broken librarian. The broken user is a support issue, and support is simply a commodity. The broken librarian, if not fixed, is an institutional liability. But God bless us, we’re a compassionate, sensitive bunch and we’re going to tip-toe around that person’s shortcomings and weave them into the fabric of our organizations. That’s the way we roll.

About this entry

Comments are closed

Comments are currently closed on this entry.

Sean Robinson06.22.07 / 9pm

ALA baggage

I have been thinking about these topics also. Since we are still in that phase of just working with Web 2.0/Lib 2.0 technologies. Flickr, Youtube Blogs etc….. The next step for us is to find a platform that will integrate these together and allow us to move forward. Why am I thinking in this way? I think it is the natural direction that the technology is flowing. I would agree that library world seems to be spitting into these two camps of thought. I think that is important to somehow not take sides but to focus on innovation. I think that there is a middle way between the old and the new and that it is possible to live in both worlds. I can see both sides of this argument. I think there are forces greater than libraries that will determine if we are relevant. Maybe it is this uncertainty that is coursing this split in ideology. How to live work and thrive in these situations I think is the real challenge. What I really enjoy about this post is that it is extremely thought provoking and I have far more questions than answers having read it. Thanks John great stuff!!

Nice post, but you’re somewhat misreading my rhetorical stance in order to support your own. In the broadest sense, librarianship has treated all users as broken things that need fixing. Sure, sometimes users are wrong. But they’re usually wrong in interesting and important ways we can learn from, and they teach us where WE are wrong. They’re definitely not wrong in the sense of needing to conform to our systems so we can prove that we don’t need to change. I think you and I are on the same page but I wanted to respond anyway.

Saw you at the OCLC thing, btw, but it was a big crowd and people surged between us!

Just came across your site and wanted to say that I enjoyed reading this post. Your sentence: In effect, poorly implemented technology amounts to spamming our users and staff with “new features.” particularly resonated with me. I’m on the web 2.0 bus, but hear this a lot from my colleagues that aren’t quite there yet. I think it hits the nail on the head as far as how they probably feel about web 2.0.

[…] visited John Blyberg’s blog this afternoon so that I could properly cite a post of his I wanted to quote from. His latest post, “Wrong Song, Michael Gorman” is an elegant and gentle rebuttal to the […]

Heya great website! Does running a blog like this take a massive amount work?
I’ve no expertise in computer programming but I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, if you have any recommendations or techniques for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off subject nevertheless I simply had to ask. Thank you!

This is the right webpage for everyone who wishes to
find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you
(not that I personally would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a new spin on a topic that’s been discussed for years. Wonderful stuff, just excellent!

After I originally commented I appear to have clicked the -Notify me
when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time
a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment.
Is there an easy method you can remove me from that service?
Appreciate it!

weight loss programs05.27.13 / 10pm

I’ve read a few excellent stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you place to create the sort of fantastic informative site.

After looking into a handful of the blog posts
on your web page, I truly appreciate your
technique of blogging. I saved it to my bookmark site list
and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my website as well and tell me how you feel.

Upon having got the particular listing of
people you would want to contemplate, do a weeding along with notice
three of the highest quality. The computer has revolutionized the way people spend their working
time working. – Buyers want to envision themselves
in a gorgeous newly renovated kitchen where they can actually see themselves –
preparing meals for their friends and family ‘where the kids nestle into a cozy banquette doing their homework, or their guests mingling around that gorgeous island.

It could be a bedroom that someone has needed for years. When it comes to basement finishing in Toronto, the renovating companies of Toronto can cater you
so many selections. Staying away from the kitchen and bathroom showrooms,
that always showcase the high end models and every small appliance known
to mankind.

You can rest assured that your property will actually foundational towards the property’s operation. Usenobong Bassey and Constance Irvin of the Residential and Commercial property management tallahassee, Ft Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beachservices, the outsider will be an enforcer & leave you enjoy property you have is very crucial. This is where these services come in very handy when you have scheduled your vacation. Irvine property management tallahassee have the task to 100% satisfaction of their clients. This was way up from the 37.

Whereas elongated bowl is like egg shaped and is more comfortable than the round one as it holds a bit longer area
for your comforts. Then, reiterate your price range day after day since
the challenge moves in the direction of completing. Staying away from the kitchen and bathroom showrooms, that always showcase the high end models and every small appliance
known to mankind.

Your customers will be pleased that their identities
were protected when they bought your product. We will help you rank for your keyword analysis.
You can track current and previous customers, and this is where
you join the Affiliate Junktion Website Package, 100% free of
charge products that you don’t need any skills to attain this goal. What process does your product go through that will add a value to it in your customer’s eyes?

Hey I am so glad I found your blog page, I really found you by mistake, while I was browsing on Google
for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to
say many thanks for a tremendous post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the excellent job.

You can help your members feel that sense of belonging and purpose everywhere they go by creating custom keepsakes they.
For an even better return on your minimal investment,
consider offering special deals on related merchandise to those who took part in
the fun. Freeman looked at hundreds of styles of engagement
rings, until he found what he was looking for.

There are so many more ways that you can advertise your
special event such as using:. They ought to be ready to pattern
1 for you as extended as you’re prepared to obtain a couple of dozen or so. ‘
I was persuaded to adopt the former by Ben Stone the Bad Quaker.

However, right or wrong, these items would not suit if
you were applying at a public school. Lapel years have served many functions, being useful for varied reasons.
Freeman looked at hundreds of styles of engagement rings,
until he found what he was looking for.

With the people making up your Traffic Recon
Review efforts. For example, if a business such as engineering and graphic arts.

They offer a great way to recruit new visitors to your website.
Leyden Communications Israel offers a list of target customers and send emails
to your customers. Increasing conversions with point and click landing pages How To Get Immediate
Top Page Search Results 6 signs your business is the ideal option to increase a
web site, and your ezine.

In addition, it also depends upon the fact that how
you are going to use it. Offset digital printed
custom trading pins are the way to go if you need
to reproduce a painting, photo or organizational logo precisely.

They can be used as a part of a uniform, or to show
sponsorship of a non-profit organization.

Few, if any suppliers of custom lapel pins supply these styles today.
The free service also helps in reducing the cost
involved and is therefore useful. Bushing, rod ends, globalspec product announcement for rbc bearings
rod ends, spherical unibal bearings originator of the heim joint – an industry
standard for over 70 years heim bearings.

One hundred billion dollars Total: $100,000,
000,000. Reputable providers never charge for artwork and revisions, so you can tinker with your team.
Antonio Inoki’s Mixed Martial Arts record at the end of his career is 16 wins (9 KO, 5 submissions, 2 pins), 1 loss (1 KO), 3 draws.

Thanks for a marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you happen to
be a great author. I will ensure that I bookmark your blog
and will often come back sometime soon. I want to encourage you to ultimately
continue your great writing, have a nice morning!

Fear can be brought about by the hangover of a horror movie.
She says she went for dipo provera and the first five weeks or so
was great she dint experience any problems at all. It is truly fearful to watch horror films, though the youths and
adults enjoy watching it.

I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s equally educative and engaging, and let me tell you, you have hit
the nail on the head. The problem is something not enough
men and women are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I came across this in my hunt for something
regarding this.

I truly love your website.. Excellent colors & theme.
Did you make this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m trying to create my own blog and would love to know where you got this from or what the theme is called. Many thanks!

Me

A father and a library geek.

I work at the Darien Library in Connecticut as the Assistant Director for Innovation and User Experience.